North Liberty Community Pantry looks to receive additional $150,000 from city

NORTH LIBERTY — The city of North Liberty will give an additional $150,000 to North Liberty Community Pantry’s “Planting New Roots” campaign that will fund a new $4 million facility.

The city council verbally agreed to allocate $150,000 of the city’s remaining $461,000 in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act to the pantry. A formal resolution will still need to be voted on before the pantry receives the money.

North Liberty received $2.9 million in ARPA funds. Around $2.4 million, not including the $150,000 for the pantry, has already been allocated.

“This (additional funding) will help continue momentum and help encourage other contributions that the city is not alone in supporting Planting New Roots, and at the same time, the momentum that this will bring will help bring additional donors,” said Ryan Bobst, executive director of North Liberty Community Pantry.

The pantry already received $100,000 in ARPA funds from the city back in May. Additionally, the pantry was awarded $28,000 through North Liberty’s Fiscal Year 2025 social services grant program.

Bobst said the pantry asked for additional support from the city after construction costs increased, in part due to adding square footage to the building. Bobst said the pantry has raised $850,000 for the project and fundraising efforts are ongoing.

The new building, which will be built at 350 W. Penn St., will help the pantry meet growing demand for its services. Last year, the pantry distributed 588,000 pounds of food to people — more than twice the amount distributed in 2021. In addition to food, the pantry also offers feminine hygiene products, diapers and toiletries.

“I think we allocated some dollars to programs that have and continue to struggle to show and prove the actual dollar impact per North Liberty resident. The pantry has always been at the top of the list of being able … to show us the picture of what you're doing and those that you're impacting,” said council member Brent Smith.

Council member Erek Sittig is a board member for the pantry and has abstained from voting on resolutions affirming the city’s financial support.

Bobst said the pantry is aiming to start work on the foundation of the new building in September and will plan a groundbreaking ceremony.

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